Cruciate ligaments :

Graft healing - - Posted by Wookster (Wookster), 21 January 2005

Does anyone have any info on actual healing of the graft on the internet?
I'd quite like to read up how the healing works and what the time frames are.
I've done a google but not found much.
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 21 January 2005

good question wookster. I've been trying to find the same kind of information.

Studies have shown that re-incorporation is complete in 18 months. That doesn't necessarily relate to a return to activities.

This is a good example, search for graft incorporation.

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ortho/oj/2002/html/oj15sp02p21.html

Here are couple others, I haven't read these:

Shino K, Inoue M, Horibe S, Nakata K, Maeda A, Ono K.  Surface blood
flow and histology of human anterior cruciate ligament allografts.  
Arthroscopy. 1991;7(2):171-6.  
Shino K, Inoue M, Nakamura H, Hamada M, Ono K.  Arthroscopic follow-up
of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using allogeneic tendon.  
Arthroscopy. 1989;5(3):165-71

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